China launched a group of 18 communication satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province on Thursday afternoon, deploying the third batch of space-based assets of the Spacesail Constellation in orbit.

Developed by Shanghai-based satellite company Spacesail, the plate-shaped satellites were carried by a Long March 6A rocket that blasted off at 12:41 pm and soon arrived in their preset orbit.

After the launch, the Spacesail Constellation now has 54 satellites in service.

Previously known as the G60 network, the Spacesail Constellation is intended for providing high-speed, secure and reliable broadband internet services to users around the world, and is designed to consist of as many as more than 10,000 satellites travelling in low-altitude orbits before the end of 2030, according to Spacesail, the network's operator in Shanghai.